This is an early 1937 Chamber dated Mauser Code "S/42" in excellent condition. Truly a collector's find! There is the Mauser Code S/42 on the first toggle link with a "V" notch rear sight on the 2nd toggle. The last two digits of the serial number appear on all the small parts including the thumb safety, all matching numbers. In the early part of 1937 a decision was made to eliminate the straw bluing of the locking lever, trigger, thumb safety, magazine release and ejector and then salt blue the gun. This produced the highly sought after "early" 1937, the last of the original finish Lugers. (1972)

NOTE: Photographs taken today
with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with
the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural
surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary
handling of the weapon. Photographs are
copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or
display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix
Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.
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The Treaty of Versailles placed severe restrictions on the German armaments industry. To thwart these limitations and permit a modern rearmament from 1925, the Germans used a system of alphabetical letters to represent the years A-1925, Z-1926, N-1927, T-1928, R-1929, B-1930, E-1931, O-1932, N-1933, K-1934, G-1935. In January 1936 this order was rescinded and the full four digit date (1936) was directed.

Featuring a 100mm (4" barrel) and without the Mauser manufactured 2mm "hump" at the rear of the frame. This tells us that in 1937 they were still using up DWM stocks and parts from their merger with BKIW. This is the classic Model 1934 as manufactured for German Military Acceptance as witnessed by the various Eagle 63 Waffen Amt proofs. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers.

This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style.

These Lugers were manufactured by Mauser-Werke in Oberndorf. The S/42 code was being instituted in 1934-1939. In addition in April 1939 the new style Eagle over the Swastika replaced the former droop-winged eagle army acceptance stamp. The magnificent blue of the gun was achieved by the rust-blue finish. Later in 1937 the small parts were all blued instead of straw-blue and the finish was changed to a hot salt blue finish.

The serial number
appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver,
under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. The
firing pin is original and serial numbered to the gun. All
serial numbers match including the magazine. The magazine
is the blue sleeved model with aluminum pinned bottom; proofed with the droop
wing eagle 63. Proof marks are well struck and clearly
visible.

The holster is an original black with the white stitching, all stitching intact. The pull strap is fully functional and the loading tool pocket is in very good condition.

The Wehrmacht went to the black leather for the enlisted man except for the SS and the officers kept the brown belt, holster and chest strap. This identification was fine garrison and parades but when coming under enemy fire the officers began to use die and wax to change their field leather to black so as to not stand our. This 1937 holster therefore was issued to an enlisted German soldier.

The date stamp of the manufacturor of 1937 and the adjacent Wehrmacht Waffenamt stamp authenticates this beautiful holster to the 1937 Parabellum.

Above Left: We can see two excellent matching magazines that were issued with this weapon, by then the blued metal with the aluminum base. Above Right: We can see the loading key with the flat screwdriver end for the grip screws and firing pin and the proofed inverted stem that fits over the loading knob of the magazine and allows the shooter to depress the follower for loading.

This is a standard 1934
Model gun designated by collectors as the 1937 "S/42"
Mauser. This Luger has
all matching numbers.
The finish is very good and this model has a
hold open latch and stock lug.
This is a
basic excellent collector gun with all matching numbers.

Above Left: These pictures show the grips displaying the "59" (last two digits of the serial number). Above Right: You can see the Parabellum in full recoil. We can also see the rear of the frame with a straight edge at the back and not present is the 2mm extension of a Mauser made frame. Therefore we should conclude this is a remainder from the DWM stocks that were still being intermittently used up in 1937. In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an
order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered to the gun. In this case we see the last two digits of the serial #99.

This is a splendid example of the 1937 Parabellum with an early gun on the original DWM frame and all the appropriate parts straw blued. A very hard to find variation of the "early 1937" model.

(Above) You can see the craftsmanship present in the machined parts, all serial
number, all matching. The left side of the Parabellum has all
the matching serial numbers in the exposed "military" manner.

Early picture of Adolph Hitler in the 1920's during the period of the beer hall putsch when he was just organizing and recruiting followers. Above Right: A. Hitler with the President of Germany Field Marschall von Hindenburg. During the transition from Chancellor to Der Führer Hitler took great care to afford Hindenburg with respect since he was loved by the German people from his WWI victories. :

This is a standard 1934
Model gun designated by collectors as the 1937 "S/42"
Mauser. This Luger has
all matching numbers.
The finish is very good and this model has a
hold open latch and stock lug.
This is a
basic excellent collector gun with all matching numbers.

ABOVE RIGHT: On the right is the removal of the side plate revealing the trigger with the "99" displayed there. Above Left: The military display of serial numbers was all exposed so you can see the "99" on the small parts.

The right and left side of the Parabellum are in minty condition with all the straw blue clean and shiny; emphasizing the value of the 1937, the last time Mauser didn't rust blue the guns and apply straw (heat treatment) to the small parts.

This Luger has been cared for over 79 years
now. It is looking for a good home. It is very difficult to
find an all matching serial numbered gun and a matching magazine. This is
a premium 1937 for the serious collector who demands the best in
collectable Lugers. This is a very clean

Acceptance stamps began in the Imperial era with a crowned Gothic character and were personalized to an individual inspector. When Germany became a Republic in 1918 the State Eagle or Reichsadler replaced the Imperial Crown in acceptance stamps. At the end of production the guns were brought before bluing for inspection and the serial numbers were applied and the testing occurred to achieve the final acceptance proof.

The most distinctive
feature of these pistols is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which
holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human
knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent is
quite easy to continue to bend. The toggle joint in its straight
position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then
"buckles" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and
toggle move straight rearward (on rails) until the toggle begins to ride
up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle (makes it bend at the
joint).

Once the
toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt
to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is
extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top
of the toggle, is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward
Free Travel Info, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and
chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a
spring.

On the barrel is the clear proof of the drooped wing Eagle 37 indicating the barrel was produced and inspected at the Mauser plant. On the Extractor is the word 'GELADEN' (Loaded) which protruded to tell the shooter both visually and tactilely that the Parabellum was loaded. On the breach block was the early military acceptance stamp with the drooped wing alder (eagle).

This close up of the top of the Luger shows a very small proof on the upper left of the barrel, the full 1937 date over the chamber, the last two digits of the serial number "42" on the extractor and 1st toggle link and on the rear of the 2nd toggle. All matching and in marvelous condition. EXT

Above Left: Here we can see the early Mauser Eagle 63
proofs with the drooped wings and the early Waffenamt (Ordinance) drooped
wing acceptance stamp. The dropped wing Eagle 63, an early Mauser proof used until the
straight wing E63 which was introduced in 1939 with the Code 42 marked
Lugers. Above Right: On the top quarter of the barrel is the
E63 proof and on the
locking lever and side plate the last two digits of the serial number.

It is entirely subjective to
give any firearm a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it
xx% blued or strawed. Few collectible weapons are out of the box new and these are
premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the
beholder. We strive to provide pictures
so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.Any questions or request for additional purchases email to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com This firearm is eligible for transfer to C&R permit holder, even in California. We are registered with CA DOJ for firearms shipment.

The Battleship Sharnhorst in the harbor at Kiel.

This early 1937 Mauser S-42 Rig is in very-good to excellent condition and offered for $4,295.00 over the counter. This Parabellum show honest holster wear and a strong shiny barrel. This gun may be sold before
being posted as such on the internet.

We reserve the right to sell any internet
offering to a direct sale and no not warrant the availability of any
firearm that does not have a physical deposit. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. Call for availability.

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our
"significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and
investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In
these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we
will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some
activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is
completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two
months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at
any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

We
honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any
pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is
what you want to see, before you buy it. See
Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY
CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to
fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as
collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a
qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.